When the time arrives to recite Birkat Kohanim<\/i>, the Kohanim<\/i> are not permitted to start the berachah<\/i> until the chazan<\/i> or the gabbai<\/i> announces \u201cKohanim<\/i>.\u201d This is because the Torah states (Numbers 6:23), \u201cSay to them,\u201d denoting that Moshe, who is not a Kohen<\/i>, must tell the Kohanim<\/i> to bless Israel. Thus we learn that first the Kohanim<\/i> must be called, and only afterward do they begin blessing. If only one Kohen<\/i> ascends the platform, \u201cKohanim<\/i>\u201d is not declared, since it is written, \u201cSay to them\u201d (in plural). Thus, the word \u201cKohanim<\/i>\u201d is only announced when there are at least two Kohanim<\/i> present (Shulchan Aruch<\/i> 128:10). Some authorities conclude that the essence of Birkat Kohanim<\/i> is when there are at least two Kohanim<\/i> to perform the blessing (Rabbeinu Peretz<\/i> brought by the Tur<\/i> 128; see Aruch HaShulchan<\/i> 128:9).<\/p>\n
The blessing itself is not recited by the Kohanim<\/i> on their own. Rather, the chazan<\/i> recites each word and the Kohanim<\/i> repeat after him. Some chazanim<\/i> mistakenly recite the words in a quiet voice. That is incorrect. Instead, the chazan<\/i>‘s voice must be heard clearly by the Kohanim<\/i> and should be just slightly softer than theirs (see Tzitz Eliezer<\/i> 14:17; Nesiat Kapayim Kehilchatah<\/i> 12:3.) Following each verse, the congregation answers Amen<\/i>.<\/p>\n
As we learned (in halachah 1) the awakening of our will to accept Hashem\u2019s blessing awakens the Supreme Will to abundantly bestow blessing upon Israel. In other words, when HaKadosh Baruch Hu<\/i> created the world, He established that free will was to be a key component. Therefore only after we awaken from below the desire for something positive, a parallel desire from Above awakens to aid us in achieving that thing. Hence, it is necessary that one of the Yisraelim<\/i> being blessed first declares \u201cKohanim<\/i>,\u201d thereby expressing in words our desire to accept Hashem\u2019s blessing, and only then the Kohanim<\/i> begin to bless. Afterwards as well, the chazan<\/i> must read every word first, and in doing so, express our desire for every detail of the berachah<\/i>, following which the Kohanim<\/i> repeat that word, and HaKadosh Baruch Hu<\/i> abundantly bestows His blessing upon us (Likutei Halachot LaMaharan<\/i>, Nesiat Kapayim<\/i> 3:4).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When the time arrives to recite Birkat Kohanim, the Kohanim are not permitted to start the berachah until the chazan or the gabbai announces \u201cKohanim.\u201d This is because the Torah states (Numbers 6:23), \u201cSay to them,\u201d denoting that Moshe, who is not a Kohen, must tell the Kohanim to bless Israel. Thus we learn that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-20-birkat-kohanim-the-priestly-blessing"],"yoast_head":"\n